Banksy tree mural that sprouted in London is fenced off after apparent vandalism

LONDON — It was nice while it lasted. An environmentally themed mural by elusive street artist Banksy that appeared last week on a London street has been encased in plastic and surrounded by fencing after an apparent act of vandalism. The work is on a four-story wall near a public housing project. Beside a real and severely pruned cherry tree, the artist stenciled a small figure holding a pressure hose. Swathes of green paint across the wall stand in for the tree’s absent leaves. The work quickly attracted crowds including Banksy fans from around the world. Two days later, it was splashed with white paint. The mural was then covered in transparent plastic by the building’s owner, and a sign appeared saying the area was under video surveillance. On Wednesday, workers began to erect wooden boards around the site. The local authority, Islington Council, said it was fencing off the site to protect the art and residents from the impact of visitors. “We’ve had a lot of concerns from our residents about disruption from the numbers of visitors to the artwork, which is right outside their homes,” the council said in a statement. It said the fencing would include clear...